The practice of medicine is much different now than it once was. Physicians are extremely specialized and it is rare that one physician can provide complete care for a patient. As a result, care often involves many physicians working together to treat a patient. These efforts can help the patient receive the care he or she needs to heal or maintain their health.
The rules that govern the practice of medicine are thorny. A misstep can lead to allegations of fraud.
An example of medical care leading to allegations of fraud
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor has accused a physician of perpetuating a cancer throughout the health care industry and using patients as “cash cows.”
The charges are just the most recent in an ongoing investigation by the Commercial Bribery Task Force. The force focuses on commercial bribery in this industry. It began operations in 2016.
More specifically, the physician is accused of paying kickbacks to other medical professionals in exchange for referrals to his pain management facility. The accusations are part of a larger, medical kickback allegation.
Attorney General Grewal recently announced the charges, which include conspiracy, money laundering, theft by deception, health care claims fraud and criminal running.
Part of the difficulty with navigating these rules is the number of exceptions to the anti-kickback statute. Due to the complexity of the law and the serious penalties that can come with a conviction, it is wise for any medical professional facing allegations of a violation to seek legal counsel.